Page 34 of Unyielding (Poplar Springs #3)

THIRTY-FOUR

SHANNON

I kept glancing at the door as the Cattlemen’s Association meeting came to a close.

It had been the usual hour and a half of long-term weather predictions and industry news.

The mayor was supposed to give a presentation on the rodeo planned for the spring.

But evidently, the mayor was out sick again.

I heard Doug Stanley say something about him still feeling poorly.

So Amy Thorne had come over to speak with us instead.

She’d confirmed that we would have at least one internationally known rodeo star making an appearance.

The other guy was still on the fence depending on whether his doc would approve.

From what Amy shared, Pop High’s favorite history teacher, Rafael Alvarez, had been a mentor to Cal Pierce when he’d first started out.

I had to admit that I didn’t know anything about the rodeo rider, but a couple of attendees were familiar with his roping skills and they were eager to see him in person.

I tried to pay attention but it all felt impossible to focus on given the green light I’d just gotten from Josh.

I felt bubbly about my news and was excited to share it with Declan, weirdness or not.

It was a joint victory, and I knew he’d be almost as thrilled as I was.

It should be worth a few stolen kisses at least.

The group made their way to the table offering coffee and snacks, and Becca sidled up to me. She had a full face of makeup and perfect hair, looking like she was headed for a night out and not a simple town meeting. It wasn’t even noon.

“Have you seen our handsome vet lately?” she asked, a Cheshire cat grin on her face.

I frowned. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Well, you two seemed to be spending so much time together, so I just assumed that you would’ve.” She turned to scan the room. “Is he going to show up today?”

I took a deep breath to calm myself. “I have no idea,” I lied. “I don’t keep his schedule.”

Becca laughed. “Not yet you don’t, but I bet if you had your way you would !”

I moved toward the coffee urn and positioned myself so that my back was to Becca.

“Anyway, I need to thank him,” Becca continued, reaching past me for a coffee cup. “He gave me a great tip on a mare, so I bought her. She’s being delivered tomorrow so of course I’ll need him to come over and assess her.”

There seemed to be something pointed in Becca’s tone, as if she was winding me up, baiting me.

But why would she expect me to care about her purchases?

It was Becca’s business. She had the right to invest in it any way she wanted.

Did she simply want to brag about having enough money to spare to make purchases whenever she wanted?

I wasn’t sure what her game was, but I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of seeing that she affected me.

Keeping my tone casual, I replied, “Is that a fact? Where from?”

“A little operation in Eastville.”

I froze. There was no way…

“Harmony Hill.” Becca continued, stirring her coffee.

“Declan said she was a sound mare at a great price, so how could I not jump on it? I swooped right in and bought Sunshine on the spot. Cash offer, over asking price. When I talked to Mary—uh, Mary Dugan—she mentioned that you’d expressed some interest too, but then she said she hadn’t heard from you in a while so…

” Becca shrugged prettily. “We both assumed that you weren’t interested anymore. ”

The room started spinning, and the noise around me seemed to go silent as I tried to comprehend what was going on.

“You bought Sunshine. My Sunshine.”

I thought I’d said it in a normal tone of voice but based on the way everyone turned to look at me, I must have shouted it.

“Well, she’s my Sunshine now.” Becca laughed. “Thanks to Declan.”

I shook my head in confusion. “ Dr. Morris is the one who told you about Sunshine? You didn’t know about her before that?”

“Nope.”

“Didn’t he say that I was going to buy her?” This time I knew that I sounded screechy, but I couldn’t help it.

“He may have mentioned that. I really can’t recall. It’s not like I keep track of what you do with your little breeding program. Anyway… this is business, Shannon. A tip is a tip, and that was a good one. I owe Declan a huge thank you, and I really can’t wait to give it to him.”

I’ll just bet she couldn’t. I stared at her. “Sunshine is a warmblood. Why would you buy her when you specialize in hot bloods?”

She shrugged and I couldn’t miss that smirk on her face. “Oh, you know, I’m always looking at ways to expand the business.”

A few ranchers had gathered around us, listening in but pretending not to. Walter Briggs was the only one who didn’t seem to care that he was obviously eavesdropping.

As much as I wanted to blast Becca for ruining the deal I’d worked so hard to close, I knew the real anger needed to be directed at Declan.

I could barely see straight, but I knew that I needed to keep it together considering how many of the town folks were clocked in on the conversation.

I needed to hold on to their respect for my sake and my family’s.

“Anyway, so sorry you were disappointed,” Becca said, giving me an exaggerated frown.

“It’s business,” was all I could manage. I turned on my heel to grab my bag and leave.

“Excuse me, Miss Shannon, can you talk for a moment?”

I turned and saw Walter Briggs walking toward me with a concerned expression etched on his face.

The last thing I wanted to do was have a conversation with a man who was known for monologuing when I was trying to make a speedy exit, but there was no way I could avoid him without being unforgivably rude.

“Okay.”

“I couldn’t help but overhear what you and Miss Becca were talking about. Did she say that Doc Morris tipped her off about a mare you’d planned to buy?”

I realized exactly what was happening and knew that there was no way I could avoid it.

I was about to confirm Declan’s unethical behavior to the unofficial gossip of Poplar Springs.

It would trash his reputation, but the truth was, a part of me welcomed the opportunity to throw him under the bus.

He’d ruined my chances with a horse that could’ve been the next big thing for my program.

Instead, the mare I’d pinned so many hopes on had been sold out from under me to Becca .

I was so angry with him that I was willing to grab the microphone at the podium and tell the whole damn room what he’d done to me.

I cleared my throat, trying to unstick the words. “I guess he did.”

“Hmph,” Walter said, his displeasure obvious in the single syllable.

“That’s what the two Bobs thought too. Now, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions since I like the fellow, but talking about folks’ business like that is as crooked as a barrel of fishhooks if you ask me.

I’ll have to let Doc Ruth know that I won’t stand for that sort of behavior in any vet I have on my property.

And I know most of the other folks here feel the same. ”

I couldn’t make sense of the wave of sadness that washed over me at Walter’s revelation. I was so hurt and angry by what Declan had done, but at the same time, I wanted to try to convince Walter that he was wrong about Declan. One mistake shouldn’t define him.

One massive, business-maiming mistake that was going to cost me, big time.

And Becca had won, yet again.

My hackles went up once more.

“I don’t know what to say,” I answered honestly.

“Well, there’s not much to say now. Seems he loaded his own wagon, now he’s got to drive it.” Walter gave me a kind smile. “You take care, hear? Tell that brother of yours that we missed seeing his face today.”

I nodded, then hurried toward the door, keeping my eyes glued to the black and white checkered linoleum floor as I tried to hold back tears.

“Hey, you’re leaving?”

Declan filled the doorway to the old building, his eyes wide as he took in the look on my face.

“Hi, yeah, I am.” I barely glanced at him and kept moving like I was going to duck past him.

He moved to block the doorway and frowned. “Whoa, whoa, hold on, what’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” I shot back at him, my eyes locked on his. “Why don’t you ask Becca ?”

Declan recoiled and it gave me just enough space to slip outside.

“Shannon, wait,” he shouted as he followed me outside. “Please tell me what’s going on!”

“No, why don’t you go ask her?” I said over my shoulder as tears flooded my eyes despite my best efforts to keep them at bay.

I jogged to my truck and hopped in, hoping that he’d take the hint and not chase after me.

He stood frozen in the parking lot and watched me peel off before trudging back into the building.

I got stuck at the traffic light on the corner, which meant I was able to watch through the big picture window as Walter and the Bobs cornered Declan. I was too far away to read his expression, but I didn’t have to.

I knew exactly what they were saying. And how he was going to take it.

I shook my head and slammed my foot on the gas the second the light turned green. At least he’d have Becca to comfort him once he learned that everyone in town was about to turn against him.